[Capnocytophaga infections. Apropos of 8 cases]. / Infections à Capnocytophaga. A propos de huit observations.

Eight Capnocytophaga infections are described: bacteremia in immunodepressed patients (three cases), endocarditis (one case), pneumopathy (one case), buccal infection (two cases) and endometritis during use of an intrauterine contraceptive device (one case). The role of this bacterium in infections presented by immunodepressed patients is discussed in terms of literature data. Identification of the genus posed no problems. Species diagnosis is considered in terms of the use of conventional biochemical tests and the API ZYM collection.

In-vitro susceptibility of thirty strains of Haemophilus ducreyi to several antibiotics including six cephalosporins.

We have studied the in-vitro susceptibility of 30 strains of Haemophilus ducreyi to 22 antibacterial agents. Twenty-seven strains produced a beta-lactamase that had an isoelectric point similar to the isoelectric point of the TEM 1 type beta-lactamase produced by pSF 2124. Except for cefamandole, the 30 strains had similar susceptibilities to the different cephalosporins, cefotaxime being the most active compound. Twenty-two isolates were resistant to tetracycline and doxycycline; minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of minocycline was 4 mg/l for all the strains. One isolate was resistant to chloramphenicol (MIC = 16 mg/l). All strains were relatively resistant to colistin and nalidixic acid, and susceptible to streptomycin, kanamycin, gentamicin, erythromycin, rifampicin and vancomycin.

[Cervico-facial suppuration of oro-dental origin due to Eikenella corrodens]. / Suppurations cervico-faciales d'origine bucco-dentaire à Eikenella corrodens.

Several cases are reported of cervico-facial suppuration of buccodental origin, the infection being due to Eikenella corrodens, a facultative anaerobic germ that is difficult to culture. Conditions appropriate to the growth of these germs are discussed with respect to etiological, bacteriological and clinical factors. Therapy is outlined and a selective bibliography proposed.

Detection of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) activity in a strain of Haemophilus ducreyi.

The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of chloramphenicol for a clinical isolate of Haemophilus ducreyi, strain CEB-10, was 16 micrograms/ml. This strain was also resistant to tetracycline (MIC = 64 micrograms/ml) and ampicillin. The presence of a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) activity was demonstrated.

In vitro susceptibility of 96 Capnocytophaga strains, including a beta-lactamase producer, to new beta-lactam antibiotics and six quinolones.

The in vitro activities of new beta-lactam antibiotics and new quinolones were studied against 96 Capnocytophaga strains, including a beta-lactamase-producing strain which was resistant to ampicillin, amoxicillin, carbenicillin, cephalothin, and cefamandole. All strains were susceptible to the combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid, ureidopenicillins, cefoxitin, broad-spectrum cephalosporins, and imipenem. Cephalothin and cefamandole did not show good activity against most strains. All Capnocytophaga spp. were uniformly susceptible to the five new quinolones tested.

[Actinomyces israelii. Methods of isolation and identification. Apropos of 10 cases]. / Actinomyces israelii. Méthodes d'isolement et d'identification. A propos de dix observations.

Actinomyces israelii was isolated from cervico-facial subacute or chronic infections (9 cases), and abdominal wall abscess (1 case). Two conditions were necessary for successful isolation of A. israelii: properly collected clinical specimen (pus aspirated from abscess or biopsy) and prolongated incubation of anaerobic cultures (at minimum 5 days). Two commercially available micro-method multitest systems (Api 20 anaerobes, Api Zym test) were compared with standard biochemical procedures. The three methods were evaluated as to the reproducibility and help in identifying anaerobic non spore-forming Gram-positive bacilli in a routine clinical laboratory.

The enzymatic profile of Haemophilus ducreyi.

The enzymatic activities of two reference strains of Haemophilus ducreyi and thirty clinical isolates were investigated by conventional biochemical tests and the API-ZYM test kit system which included 97 synthetic substrates. No strains converted delta-aminolevulinic acid to porphyrins, but they all reduced nitrates to nitrites. All strains possessed aminopeptidase activity against beta-naphthylamide derivatives of L-alanine, L-arginine, L-glutamine, glycine, L-leucine, L-lysine and L-serine. No trypsinor chymotrypsin-like activities were detected. All strains had phosphatase activity with broad pH range, and phosphoamidase activity. No glycosidase was detected by the substrates tested.

[About five cases of cervico-facial actinomycosis (author's transl)]. / Cinq cas d'actinomycose cervico-faciale.

Concerning five observations of cervico-facial actinomycosis in two hospital wards, the authors recall that this pathology, although rare, still exists. It appears as a chronic cellulitis, usually occurring among subjects lacking in dental hygiene. The authors insist on the necessity of asking for a bacteriological test by taking a sample of pus with a pipette to look for the responsible actinomyces. The cure consists in the extracting of the teeth concerned, the removal of the necrosed tissues, a drainage, and an antibiotic treatment based on high doses of Penicilline for about three months.